Roads and Bridges

Since the construction of the first all-composite bridge superstructure in Miyun, China, in 1982, composites have been gradually gaining acceptance from civil engineers as a construction material. Today, composites are often utilized as reinforcing materials in repair and retrofitting of existing infrastructure applications. And more bridge decks are now made from composites than ever before. Composites have been used successfully in bridges all over the world. Learn where these projects are located.

Image

Properties and Benefits

  • Lightweight
  • Corrosion resistance
  • Ability to prefabricate
  • Reduced assembly and installation time
  • Lower installation and delivery costs
  • Minimal disruption to the structure
  • Longer lifespan
  • Product and system design can be optimized for specific loads
  • Reduced structure dead load can increase load ratings on existing structures
  • Increased service-life of structure
  • Reduced maintenance costs

Applications and Products

Bridges

  • Deck panels
  • Superstructure Decks
  • Girders
  • Barriers/parapets
  • Bridge enclosures
  • Drain pipes

Roads

  • Dowel bars
  • Continuous reinforcements

Tunneling

  • Soft eyes

Case Studies

Columbia River Bridge

It was out with the old and in with the new when the City of Trail, British Columbia permanently closed a nearly century old vehicle bridge. The move tasked the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) with rerouting a new sewer pipe bridge across the Columbia River. Learn More

Tom’s Creek Bridge

Tom’s Creek Bridge in Blacksburg, Va., reopened to traffic June 23, 1997 as one of the first composite short-span vehicular bridges in the U.S. Learn More

Anacostia River Bridge

This FRP pedestrian bridge spans the Anacostia River into southeast Washington D.C. FRP helped minimize maintenance costs for the National Park Service. Learn More

Sandy Beach Pedestrian Bridge

Bridge traffic in "Ohio's Million Dollar Playground" came to a halt in the 1960s when the park fell into disrepair. The Indian Lake Historical Society raised the necessary funds to rehabilitate the bridge. Learn More

Hudson Run Road Bridge

In 2006, Composite Advantage installed a GFRP bridge deck in an industrial area of Summit County, Ohio, with heavy truck traffic. Learn More

Huffman Prairie Bicycle Path Bridge

The Huffman Prairie Bicycle Path Bridge connects Greene County’s bicycle/pedestrian trail system with historical sites in the Dayton area. The owner wanted a no‐maintenance deck to reduce annual operating costs. Learn More

Hillside Bridge - Cuyahoga Valley National Park

When the previous rehabilitation of this structure last less than ten years, federal highway engineers at Eastern Federal Lands decided to go with the longest lasting deck product available: FRP decking. Learn More

Piedra Lisa Bridge

After a brush fire destroyed the wood bridge and deck, a quick replacement was needed so pedestrians could cross over a multi-lane highway. Learn More

Leri Footbridge

Strongwell’s lightweight fiberglass components allowed PIPEX Structural Composites Ltd. to fabricate a footbridge in sections over the River Leri in Wales. Learn More

Kellogg Lake Pedestrian Bridge

This pedestrian bridge is part of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project to expand transit access and make improvements to bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Learn More

H&BT Rail Trail

Broad Top Township chose Composite Advantage’s prefabricated FRP FiberSPAN bridge deck product to renovate the H&BT Rail Trail trestle bridge. Learn More

Rocks Village Bridge

Massachusetts DOT’s use of FRP for this project allowed contractors to meet their aggressive construction schedule by installing premade deck sections, and reduced the dead load. Learn More

North Bank Bridge

This FRP pedestrian bridge connects two parks along the north bank of the Charles River in Boston. FRP was used because the bridge had to be able to withstand loads of 100 pounds per square foot. Learn More

Sea Life Park Bridge

Two redwood bridges at the Sea Life Park in Waimanolo, Hawaii, were rotting out and had to be replaced every two to five years. The park found an ideal solution when they switched to fiberglass. Learn More

New Methods and Materials in Bridgebuilding Gain Acceptance

The Transportation Research Board study states that the usage of composites in bridges cut infrastructure costs and construction time. Learn More

Image